Maggie skipped back into her house and placed the kettle on the stove. "Hot cocoa time," she chanted as she searched the cupboards for a mug and the hot chocolate mix.
When the kettle began whistling, she fixed up her drink. Then she entered the den and plopped onto the sofa. As she settled down with her cup of warm, chocolatey goodness, Maggie considered skipping today's classes. It wasn't like her professors cared if the students were present. As long as work was turned in and the exams were taken, there was almost no reason to go. Besides, she had more important things to do.
Standing at the top of the hill, Maggie paused to catch her breath. Then she set down the fist-sized snowball. She gave it a push and followed it down. The freshly fallen snow was perfect for making over-sized snowballs. Every first snowfall, Maggie and her father had constructed wonders out of the white fluff. It was a favorite pastime of hers, one that she would not give up even as an adult.
An hour later, Maggie had four large snowballs lined up from biggest to smallest. The first project of the season was going to be a caterpillar. She stepped back to admire her work and figure out how many sticks she would need for legs. Occasionally, Maggie had a very mathematical method for getting things done. She wasn't always a dumb blond.
"Heads up!" the paperboy shouted as the newspaper came sailing into her yard.
"Thanks, Max," she hollered back. "I've still got some warm water if you want cocoa," she offered.
At the mention of cocoa, Max appeared from behind the hedge that separated her yard from the street. He looked down at an invisible wristwatch. "Yeah, I've got time," he said. He looked up and grinned. "Nice, uh, snowballs, Maggs."
"Thanks, kiddo. It's going to be a caterpillar when it's all done," she explained as she ushered him into her kitchen. She pulled out another mug and a can of whipped cream.
Max, who was going through her pantry, asked, "You got any of those candy cherry things they put on sundaes?"
"You put those on your hot chocolate?"
Max nodded.
"Kids...Whatever. They should be in there somewhere," she said, waving her hand at the pantry.
Cans and jars knocked together as the boy searched. Moments later, a jar of maraschino cherries sat next to a steaming mug of hot chocolate. Maggie grabbed the can, and without opening it, managed to get out three cherries. Max stared at her with wide eyes.
"What?" she asked, placing the cherries on the mountain of whipped cream.
"You just...You just pulled the cherries through the lid of the jar!"
"I don't know what you're talking about," Maggie said, handing the mug to Max.
"But it was so cool! Teach me how to do it!" he pleaded before taking a large sip of his drink.
She turned away and began cleaning up. "It's not something I can teach you."
"I promise I won't tell anyone else how to do it!"
She whirled around, her brows furrowed. "Max, you have to promise that what I tell you next you won't tell a soul. Not Nick, not Reed, not Wes, no one."
He nodded, eager to learn her secret.
Mwa ha ha ha ha. Cliffhanger!
QueenMaple